The man claims he acted in self-defense after the motorcyclist followed his daughters to their home, then threatened him and his family.

A jury of nine women and three men will consider the case of Richard Harold "Ricky" Gear, accused of murdering the biker the night of Feb. 25.

Attorneys were to begin opening statements around 2:15 this afternoon in Oconee County Superior Court.

The court clerk called an unusually large number of potential jurors to ensure attorneys could find 12 unbiased panelists and two alternates.

Defense attorney Edward Tolley had argued that Gear could not receive a fair trial here because of media coverage in the wake of the death of 21-year-old Winder resident Bryan Joseph "B.J." Mough.

As jury selection began Monday, more than half of the people in the jury pool said they knew about the case.

Superior Court Chief Judge Lawton Stephens dismissed a few jury candidates for medical, financial and other reasons, but most of the 33 people he excused Monday morning were let go after they admitted they had formed opinions about the case.

Gear is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and three counts of possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.

Prosecuting and defense attorneys questioned remaining candidates one at a time, asking about key points that will be raised during the trial - how they feel about armed self-defense, whether they own guns and if they drive motorcycles.

Stephens excused one man who told about his own bad experiences with the police and courts and another who said he does have an opinion, but didn't say so earlier.

He dismissed a University of Georgia professor who claimed his students' studies would suffer without him, and a student who admitted she would have a hard time separating the evidence presented in court from what she heard elsewhere, including media reports.

Most potential jurors, however, told attorneys they could set aside any facts they've heard about the case and give Gear an impartial hearing.

Still, Tolley pointed out that more than half the jury pool stood when asked if they had read or heard about Gear's case.

"Today, I think we've seen the results of that" pretrial publicity, he told the judge on Monday.

Tolley argues Gear shot in self-defense, after Mough menaced his two daughters as they drove on Atlanta Highway, then tried to run Gear down in his own driveway.

But authorities allege Gear's daughters may have instigated the dispute by making an obscene gesture and dispute the women's claim the biker intentionally rammed their car.